recyclingNPR Digital Services RSS Generator 0.94NPR Digital Services RSS Generator 0.94recyclingTue, 28 Nov 2017 23:41:51 +0000recyclinghttp://kcur.org
Tom TaylorScraps KC is a place to let go of your unwanted materials, inspire creativity and a refuge for the homeless from the streets. Down in Kansas City's West Bottoms, Scraps has been open for 13 months. Executive Director Brenda Mott calls it a creative reuse center. It's like a thrift store targeted at crafters. The not-for-profit accepts donations, and then sells the materials in its store. This revenue, combined with a handful of grants, pays to keep the facility open. Much of the items for sale in the store could be categorized as craft supplies: Think fabric squares, colored pencils and assorted shapes and sizes of wood. "There's anything and everything you'd ever want to do anything with," says Scraps shopper Peggy O'Toole. So far, the store has taken in 28 tons of donations. Now, it can be anywhere between 500 to 1,000 pounds of materials a week, according to Executive Director Brenda Mott. This concept of recycling and finding new uses for things most would consider junk or clutterScraps KC Works To Give Used Crafting Supplies And The Homeless A New Lifehttp://kcur.org/post/scraps-kc-works-give-used-crafting-supplies-and-homeless-new-life
113126 as http://kcur.orgFri, 24 Nov 2017 13:00:00 +0000Scraps KC Works To Give Used Crafting Supplies And The Homeless A New LifeThe holidays are approaching, and some of us will be frantically cleaning our homes — and getting rid of clutter — in preparation for guests. Or we'll be visiting parents and relatives, where we might confront the stuff from years past. On this show, we take a closer look at clutter. It's bad and we should get rid of the things that don't bring us joy, right? Maybe not... Guests: Eliza Cantlay, professonal organizer, Simplicana Mary Traylor, costume designer, Lyric Opera of Kansas CityDealing With Clutterhttp://kcur.org/post/dealing-clutter
112823 as http://kcur.orgWed, 15 Nov 2017 19:47:43 +0000Dealing With ClutterDiane KrauthamerIf you’ve recently driven through Kansas City’s Marlborough neighborhood, which borders from Troost Avenue on the west, Prospect Avenue on the east, and from E. 79th Street to E. 85th Street, you may have noticed that the streets are a little cleaner these days. That's thanks to Kansas City’s pilot Trash Cart Program, a green infrastructure project where residents are given new covered garbage and recycling bins. The program rolled out last April in Kansas City’s Marlborough neighborhood as part of the city’s development of green infrastructure projects. Since the city started the program, resident and President of the Marlborough Community Coalition Brenda Thomas says the area is noticeably much cleaner. “It has cut down on the amount of litter that gets out in the streets,” says Thomas. “And really it has cut down on the amount of litter that gets out in the streets. Sometimes people will drag those bags out and birds and dogs may get into them and scatter the stuff all around. ButWhy Kansas City's Marlborough Neighborhood Has City-Issued Trash Bins And You Don'thttp://kcur.org/post/why-kansas-citys-marlborough-neighborhood-has-city-issued-trash-bins-and-you-dont
104015 as http://kcur.orgThu, 20 Apr 2017 18:36:58 +0000Why Kansas City's Marlborough Neighborhood Has City-Issued Trash Bins And You Don'tOn average, each person in Kansas City throws away seven pounds of garbage every day, and, it turns out, 80% of that garbage is actually recyclable. We check in on Kansas City's recycling program, revisit the easy steps , and hear how our city could be doing better. Guests: Bob Mann , founder, Bridging the Gap Matt Riggs , recycling outreach coordinator, Mid-America Regional Council Marleen Leonce , senior environmental officer, Kansas City's Solid Waste Services DivisionRecycling In Kansas Cityhttp://kcur.org/post/recycling-kansas-city
102130 as http://kcur.orgMon, 06 Mar 2017 22:45:01 +0000Recycling In Kansas CitySuzanne HoganKansas City's curbside recycling program started in 2004. Since then, our diversion rates, as in the measurement of how much trash we are keeping from the landfills has stayed consistently around the in the 25-30 percent range. The goal is to reach an 80 percent diversion rate by 2020. We're a ways off, but regional experts remain optimistic. "We are recycling much more than the numbers show," says Marleen Leonce. Leonce collects recycling data for the Kansas City, Missouri's department of public works. The city is only counting what it collects, but there has been an increase in recycling from people contributing to commercial and non-profit recycling efforts. A little history Before the city had curbside recycling pickup, you'd have to take your recyclable materials to a recycling center run by Bridging The Gap . The reason the city didn't include glass in curbside program is because if the glass breaks, it can contaminate other recyclable materials. The city has a 7 percentKansas City Aims High With Recycling Efforts, But Will They Succeed?http://kcur.org/post/kansas-city-aims-high-recycling-efforts-will-they-succeed
102105 as http://kcur.orgMon, 06 Mar 2017 20:34:53 +0000Kansas City Aims High With Recycling Efforts, But Will They Succeed?Peggy LoweThe little black dress was sleeveless, with a sequined neckline, and perfect. She was going to a family wedding with her boyfriend, feeling like they were taking the next step in their relationship, and she wanted to look just right. “I bought it for my boyfriend-at-the-time sister’s wedding, and it was where I was getting to meet his parents for the first time,” she says. “Little did I know, I was also getting to meet his future wife.” That’s right. The 27-year-old woman, who didn’t want to use her name for this story, that night met the fiancee of her now ex-boyfriend. In fact, the woman recently moved to Kansas City, hoping to shed her painful past. That perfect little black dress? She wore it just that once. After a bout of spring cleaning, the dress is now in a box in the backseat of her car, ready to be taken to Goodwill. She feels giving it away will be “liberating.” “I just knew it had to go because I’ve let everything else go,” she says, “that this was kind of the last piece.”Want To Get Rid Of Cupid’s Castoffs? Don’t Hate, Donatehttp://kcur.org/post/want-get-rid-cupid-s-castoffs-don-t-hate-donate
101264 as http://kcur.orgTue, 14 Feb 2017 02:10:56 +0000Want To Get Rid Of Cupid’s Castoffs? Don’t Hate, DonateWe know we're supposed to reduce, reuse, and recycle our waste, but can local companies that make recycling their business turn a profit? Then, an eyewitness to the attack on Pearl Harbor shares her experience in Hawaii during World War II. This week's Statehouse Blend Kansas features House Speaker nominee Ron Ryckman ( R-Olathe ). Dorinda Nicholson will recollect the morning of December 7, 1941, and the aftermath of the attack on the Pacific Fleet at the Kansas City Public Library's Plaza Branch at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, December 15. For more information and to RSVP, visit KCLibrary.org .Making Money With Waste, Pearl Harbor Child Survivor, And Statehouse Blend Kansashttp://kcur.org/post/making-money-waste-pearl-harbor-child-survivor-and-statehouse-blend-kansas
98787 as http://kcur.orgTue, 13 Dec 2016 19:43:54 +0000Making Money With Waste, Pearl Harbor Child Survivor, And Statehouse Blend KansasMaria CarterMiles of Christmas lights could be headed out the door as more consumers look at switching from traditional holiday lights to their LED counterparts. Kansas City-based Southeast Enterprises is looking to keep the discarded strands out of landfills. Southeast Enterprises Business Director Megan Gurera says they accept any unused or broken strands of lights. “You know the ones you pullout, get ready to put up, and half of it works,” says Gurera. Southeast Enterprises is a sheltered workshop, employing 160 people with development or intellectual disabilities. Last year, workers there spent nearly three months disassembling the lights. All the parts are recycled and the copper is sold to pay the workers’ wages. Grants and sponsorships cover the rest. Southeast Enterprises has drop-off locations for light recycling at area Wal-Marts, several local school districts, Mid-Continent public libraries, and other locations. The drive lasts until Jan. 26, 2014 at most locations. Gurera says lastKansas City Company Pushes Holiday Light Recyclinghttp://kcur.org/post/kansas-city-company-pushes-holiday-light-recycling
47428 as http://kcur.orgMon, 09 Dec 2013 14:52:43 +0000Kansas City Company Pushes Holiday Light RecyclingChances are, a truck drives by your neighborhood to pick up recyclables. Convenient, right? But, what about glass? Its either throw it away, or pack those old bottles in your car and drive to the nearest glass recycling bin. Well, now there might be a third option. In the second half of Thursdays Central Standard , Damon Wittenborn talks about his new, one-man, curbside pick up business, Atlas Glass . His goal? To keep Kansas City from throwing glass in the trash.The Birth Of Local Curbside Glass Recyclinghttp://kcur.org/post/birth-local-curbside-glass-recycling
21628 as http://kcur.orgWed, 25 Jul 2012 18:45:19 +0000The Birth Of Local Curbside Glass RecyclingElana GordonRecycling efforts at KU hospital have cut down the amount of waste it sends to local landfills by more than a half million pounds. The two-year decline has caught the attention of the Environmental Protection Agency, which recently awarded the hospital a national achievement award for waste reduction. Jim Callier, the EPAs pollution prevention and solid waste program manager for this region, says such efforts are critical for saving valuable resources and curbing harmful emissions. Americans generate approximately 250 million tons of trash, says Callier. Only about 34 percent of that material is recycled or composted [nationwide]. The hospital stepped up its recycling efforts a couple years ago at the urging of several dozen staff members. Dwight Kasperbauer, Vice President of Operations, says the efforts have brought added benefits. Anything we can do to reduce our carbon footprint makes good sense as stewards, says Kasperbauer. But theres also been some economic benefit from it. SomeRecycling Effort Makes Big Dent In Local Hospital Wastehttp://kcur.org/post/recycling-effort-makes-big-dent-local-hospital-waste
10969 as http://kcur.orgWed, 18 Jan 2012 00:16:56 +0000Recycling Effort Makes Big Dent In Local Hospital WasteAshley FergusonDan Heryer and Brooke Salvaggio from BADSEED Farms visit the studio to talk about ways to compost at home and their new residential composting program starting next month. Brooke says that 75% of our household waste is compostable. Residential composting can be done using any natural materials. Everyone can begin composting, no matter how many acres of land or square footage of room you have. If you have a small apartment, you can compost under your own sink in a bin (that is a bin you would perhaps store winter clothes in but with small air holes for air flow). The best at-home method, according to Dan and Brooke is called verma composting, which utilizes various species of worms. Worms are best because they yield an odorless way of composting. These little helpers are very active and efficient in breaking down your waste before it starts to produce any odor. The best type of worm are called red wigglers which can be purchased at Windswept Worm Farms in Kansas City or from variousResidential Compostinghttp://kcur.org/post/residential-composting
15352 as http://kcur.orgWed, 25 May 2011 17:00:00 +0000Residential Composting